Downhill Gold medalist in Méribel Jasmine Flury won the second Downhill of the season in Val d'Isère. It was her second victory in the Alpine Ski World Cup, and the first one in Downhill, following a victory in the Super-G in St. Moritz in December 2017. Flury's only podium in the Downhill was a second place in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in January 2022.
"It felt very wild. Sometimes it was pretty much on the limit; when I jumped, it pushed me backwards. I'm super happy. The new material works extremely well – that’s great for the whole team. The fact that Joana is second makes it even better. After the World Championship, now to win also a World Cup race, it takes a little bit of pressure again off me and I'm just really happy. I proved that I can do it. I can be the fastest woman on Alpine skis", Flury said.
Teammate Joana Hählen finished in second place 0.22 seconds behind Flury. It's her 5th podium in the World Cup, the 3rd one in Downhill). Hählen equalled her career-best World Cup result in any discipline by finishing second for the third time.
"I attacked. I have a love-hate relationship with Val d'Isère. The last two times I left here injured. This time I came here and told myself that I have learned from the past and I will do better. I tried to enjoy it and ski freely and I succeeded. It's perfect, to share the podium with Jasmine is what you dream when you're a young racer", Hählen said.
Cornelia Hütter rounded out the podium in third place 0.24 seconds behind Flury. It's the third time Hütter finished on the Downhill podium in Val d'Isère. She was third in 2013, and second in 2016. The 31-year-old Austrian skier achieved her second podium place of the season after finishing in second place in the Super-G in St. Moritz.
"It was an adrenaline rush today. It really hit you hard, you had to push yourself hard. It didn't matter whether it was one meter to the left or the right. The main thing is to keep the skis on track. I am really happy with my third place. I made a few mistakes but I really tried it, I can’t blame myself", Hütter said.
Big favorite Sofia Goggia finished fourth (0.44) out of the podium.